Chapter 537: Having Convictions

It took three full days to clean the entire inn. Although Jiyuan and Jinxiu could have easily used magic to clean it quickly, they chose not to. This was to allow Along and the others to become more familiar with the inn, and to give everyone more time to spend together.

However, all good things must come to an end, and separation was inevitable. Given Azhe's condition, even if Jiyuan had explicitly allowed him to stay, Nine Peaks Mountain would not have permitted it.

On the evening of the third day, everyone gathered for a lavish dinner. The next morning, on the fourth day, everyone rose early, even Jiyuan, who had typically slept in late during the previous three days.

The hired city ceremonial music troupe arrived early at the inn's entrance, setting up their instruments, and people gradually began to gather and watch.

Although Along and Agu were still a year or two shy of their coming-of-age ceremony, their sturdy physiques made them appear much like young men in their twenties. This ensured no one would mistake them for mere children running an inn.

As the ceremonial musicians began to play, more and more people gathered around. Over the past few days, nearby residents had already realized that the inn had changed hands and was preparing for a grand reopening. Everyone knew how lazy the previous owner had been, but the inn now looked completely transformed, inside and out, signaling a fundamentally different management style.

"Bang... pop..." "Bang... pop...""Crackle, crackle, crackle, crackle..."

Two-stage firecrackers and long strings of firecrackers exploded, ensuring the festivities were in full swing. After the celebratory blasts subsided and the music briefly paused, Along stood at the forefront. He looked a little nervous at the crowd but bravely spoke in a loud voice.

"Distinguished elders and fellow townsfolk, esteemed gentry!" Along announced. "Our Shan'nan Inn is opening today! Like other inns, we provide food and lodging, and we hope you will spread the word!"

As he spoke, Dagu and Xiaogu simultaneously pulled away two red cloths from the inn's main entrance, revealing a new plaque and a row of large lanterns.

The plaque read "Shan'nan Inn." It was a simple, wide wooden board, neither gilded nor framed, yet Jiyuan's calligraphy made onlookers feel it lost none of its prestige. Similarly, each of the large lanterns bore a single character, collectively spelling out "Shan'nan Inn."

Along and the others stood together, smiling and bowing to the crowd, who politely offered their congratulations. After all, having another reputable inn was a welcome convenience for travelers.

Jiyuan then bid farewell with Azhe and Jinxiu. Everyone was smiling during their departure, showing no trace of sadness.

About fifteen minutes later, outside the city, Azhe finally couldn't hold back his tears. Jiyuan said nothing but ascended into the sky with both of them, flying directly towards Nine Peaks Mountain.

The sky was clear with a gentle breeze, and verdant mountains stretched into the distance. Passing through layers of clouds, Azhe once again beheld the towering Nine Peaks. The three had flown in silence, but now Azhe looked at Jiyuan beside him, unable to hold back his questions any longer.

"Mr. Jiyuan," Azhe asked, "will the immortals of Nine Peaks Mountain teach me immortal arts?"

Jiyuan looked at him and nodded.

"Sort of," he replied. "But for now, they will teach you principles rather than specific techniques, focusing mainly on self-cultivation and spiritual nurturing."

Jinxiu, standing nearby, opened her mouth but remained silent. Unlike her previous time on Nine Peaks Mountain, she now understood certain things about Azhe but refrained from speaking, fearing she might discourage him.

Azhe clenched his fists, then mustered his courage to ask Jiyuan another question.

"Mr. Jiyuan, can't you take me as your disciple?"

Jiyuan smiled.

"Many wish to be my disciple, but few are suitable," Jiyuan explained. "Sometimes when I refuse someone, I say I don't accept disciples, but in truth, I am quite selective. Though we share a certain destiny, it is not one of master and disciple."

Jiyuan then gestured towards the distant nine colossal peaks.

"Actually, Nine Peaks Mountain's ability to teach people immortal arts surpasses mine," Jiyuan continued. "Whether for ordinary individuals or those with exceptional talent and aptitude, it is certainly more suitable to begin their studies at Nine Peaks Mountain, where there are more Taoist scriptures to consult and more esteemed elders to learn from."

Azhe lowered his head and remained silent. Jiyuan's smile faded as he asked him,

"Tell me, why do you wish to take me as your master?"

Azhe immediately looked up and replied,

"Because Mr. Jiyuan is kind to me, gentle and courteous, and possesses the demeanor of an immortal."

"Oh?"

Jiyuan smiled again, glancing at Jinxiu beside him.

"Is your Sister Jin not good to you?" he probed. "Is she not gentle and courteous? Does she not possess the demeanor of an immortal? Why then do you not wish to take her as your master?"

Azhe was stunned. He glanced at Jinxiu, who also looked somewhat surprised, and didn't know how to answer Jiyuan. He had never considered this possibility, but now that Mr. Jiyuan had raised it, he could find no reason to object.

After a long pause, Azhe finally managed to utter a sentence.

"But... how should I repay your kindness, sir?"

Jiyuan, standing atop the cloud, turned, his expression serene yet extremely serious as he looked at Azhe.

"If, one day, your demonic nature truly takes deep root," Jiyuan said, "think of how I would view you. That, in itself, will be your repayment to me."

Jiyuan's words, "think of how I would view you," seemed to echo endlessly in Azhe's heart, imprinting Jiyuan's moon-like gaze deeply within his mind.

Azhe suddenly seemed to achieve a realization. He extended his arms, bowed deeply, and saluted Jiyuan.

"Zhuang Ze will engrave your teachings in his memory!"

Jiyuan reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Just remember it."

In the period that followed, many City God temples throughout the Nine Peaks Grotto-Heaven experienced cracking and damage to their divine statues, terrifying numerous supplicants. This caused significant turmoil within the divine realm of the Grotto-Heaven, and it was not until another month and a half had passed that everything in the Grotto-Heaven world gradually settled down.

Such occurrences within the Nine Peaks Grotto-Heaven brought immense discredit to the entire Nine Peaks Mountain. Although Jiyuan was the only outsider privy to the full extent of the matter, his influence was equivalent to that of tens of millions of immortal cultivators. Under these circumstances, once Jiyuan understood the outcome, he did not linger, bidding farewell to the immortal cultivators of Nine Peaks Mountain.

The laws of the Nine Peaks Grotto-Heaven were ultimately changed. Although some cultivators on Nine Peaks Mountain believed they could maintain the old rules simply by increasing patrols from the sect, this approach was deemed to violate heavenly harmony and was thus rejected.

However, Nine Peaks Mountain could not fully abandon its responsibility. After many days of discussion, the final changes within the Grotto-Heaven were decided: it would largely mirror the outer world, actively intervening to restore the divine order, but the flow of time within the Grotto-Heaven would remain faster, specifically twice the rate of the outside world.

Upon learning this outcome, Jiyuan offered no explicit opinion, but he believed it was the optimal result Nine Peaks Mountain had reached after careful deliberation. As an outsider, it was impossible for him to forcibly intervene and dictate their actions.

Before his departure, Jiyuan not only bid farewell to the Sect Master of Nine Peaks Mountain but also made a visit to Azhe's dwelling by the cliff. This time, the Sect Master of Nine Peaks Mountain accompanied Jiyuan.

From a distance, they saw Azhe meditating on the cliff. Whereas he had once casually sat by the edge of the precipice, he was now meditating right against the cliff face, his knees aligned vertically with the sheer drop.

Jiyuan and Zhao Yu landed at the cliff's edge. Hearing their approach, Azhe immediately turned to look at them, clearly not having fully entered a meditative state. Seeing it was Jiyuan and Zhao Yu, Azhe promptly stood up and respectfully greeted both of them.

"Zhuang Ze greets Mr. Jiyuan, and greets Sect Master Zhao!"

As a truly esteemed master, Zhao Yu was broad-minded. He had no objection to his own disciple, on his own peak, greeting Jiyuan first, considering Zhuang Ze's respectful attitude was already commendable.

Jiyuan looked at Zhuang Ze and remarked,

"Still so close to the cliff?"

"Yes, this way I can see the abyss as soon as I open my eyes."

Zhao Yu nodded slightly upon hearing Zhuang Ze's reply. Jiyuan said little more, extending his hand to give Zhuang Ze a slip of paper. Zhuang Ze took it with both hands, unfolded it, and saw the characters "Concentrate the spirit, purify the heart" written upon it.

"It's nothing extraordinary," Jiyuan said. "Just an ordinary decree, a small keepsake for you."

Indeed, it was not a magical charm but a simple decree. While there might be methods or artifacts to protect the heart from external demonic influences, to truly control the demon within, external forces could only provide influence; ultimately, one had to rely on oneself.

"Thank you, Mr. Jiyuan!"

Zhuang Ze smiled brightly, then looked at Jiyuan with a hint of reluctance.

"Are you leaving, sir?"

"I am not a cultivator of Nine Peaks Mountain, and I have my own affairs to attend to. I can't just linger here indefinitely, can I?" Jiyuan replied. "There's no need for sadness. We cultivators pursue enlightenment, and though we may travel to distant places, there will always be a day when we meet again."

Azhe looked towards the winding mountain path.

"Sister Jin hasn't come yet today. Will you wait for her, sir?"

"No, that's alright," Jiyuan chuckled. "Just tell her for me. I'm leaving now; Sect Master Zhao will see me off."

Zhao Yu, standing nearby, smiled and nodded.

"Cultivate diligently, and do not disappoint Mr. Jiyuan," Zhao Yu advised.

Jiyuan, standing beside him, added with a smile,

"And do not disappoint Nine Peaks Mountain either."

With those words, Jiyuan and Zhao Yu exchanged smiles, then stepped onto a cloud and departed. Azhe stood at the cliff's edge, gazing into the distance until the cloud disappeared from sight.

To be personally seen off by the Sect Master of Nine Peaks Mountain was a tremendous honor for Jiyuan. Zhao Yu did not merely leave after escorting him out of the Nine Peaks Grotto-Heaven; instead, he accompanied him all the way to Ruan Mountain Ferry, seeing Jiyuan onto one of Nine Peaks Mountain's flying ferries.

This vessel was not originally scheduled to be there; its itinerary had been specifically altered to transport Jiyuan. It had returned to Ruan Mountain Ferry three days prior to await his arrival. Naturally, apart from the two Nine Peaks Mountain officials on board, neither the other passengers nor the crew living on the ship were aware of the true reason for the change in schedule.

After the flying ferry set sail, Jiyuan gazed at Ruan Mountain Ferry receding into the distance and Nine Peaks Mountain shimmering like a mirage on the horizon. His thoughts seemed to drift into the Grotto-Heaven. In his sleeve, his right hand now held a newly acquired chess piece.

This chess piece was not one he previously possessed; it had appeared when he was returning from the Grotto-Heaven with Azhe, specifically after he had uttered the words, "think of how I would view you," and Zhuang Ze had offered his solemn bow.

Jiyuan had a premonition that this chess piece would appear, but he had hoped this "void piece" would not materialize.

"All demons are bound by their obsessions..."

With a sigh, Jiyuan left the deck and returned to his cabin.